Assistant Director - Undergraduate Financial Aid

Chapman University Careers•Irvine, CA

About The Position

The Assistant Director is a member of the Undergraduate Financial Aid management team and provides leadership, mentorship, support, and direction to the frontline advising team. The role contributes insight and innovation regarding financial aid policies, procedures, programs, and regulations, and helps ensure data integrity and compliance with university, state, and federal laws, internal controls, and service quality standards. The Assistant Director resolves issues beyond the advising team’s scope, including complex cases involving students and parents. The position prepares materials and presents to groups at orientation, financial aid events, and community partner events. It also serves as a liaison to campus partners and performs other duties as assigned or requested.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
A minimum of 4 years of undergraduate financial aid experience at a public or private nonprofit university.
Strong and current knowledge of federal and state financial aid programs.
Ability to communicate clearly and accurately with internal and external partners, students, and their families.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, remain calm, and empathize with students and parents from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to demonstrate tact and diplomacy and maintain a high level of confidentiality with strict adherence to FERPA standards.
Ability to make appropriate decisions and sound judgments on routine to critical matters.
Ability to maintain and present data clearly and concisely.
Ability to work successfully independently and as part of a team.
Strong organizational skills to prioritize projects and deadlines and help the team do the same.
Comfort with public speaking and presentations, including creating presentations and outreach materials.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Undergraduate Financial Aid Office management team.
Provide leadership, mentorship, support, and direction to the front-end operations team, directly supervising 2 to 3 team members.
Create and maintain training materials for new team members and support the team’s continued proficiency in federal and state regulations and institutional policies.
Participate in setting area goals and objectives and measure performance against them.
Interpret policies and regulations and determine exception requests as appropriate to the position level.
Evaluate internal practices, procedures, and policies and recommend changes or enhancements.
Promote a positive image of the Financial Aid Office and Enrollment Division by ensuring information is accurate, consistent, timely, and aligned with policies and procedures.
Maintain professional currency through active participation and leadership in internal and external associations and committees.
Create and maintain a master calendar of regular team and individual meetings.
Meet with students and families as needed and handle escalated issues diplomatically and tactfully.
Present at on- and off-campus financial aid events, including financial aid nights, conferences, and enrollment events.
Serve as a liaison to campus partners, including Disability Services, Global Education, Student Business Services, the Office of the Registrar, and the Dean of Students Office, answering questions, providing guidance, and resolving complex problems.
Monitor weekly, monthly, and annual reports to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.
Provide data and analysis on work effectiveness to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement.
Provide insight during leverage planning meetings and assist with yearly setup or changes as needed.
Provide quality assurance and testing of financial aid packages.
Perform other duties as assigned or requested.